Can Idling at 3500 RPM Clean Carbon Deposits in a Car?
2 Answers
Idling a car at 3500 RPM can clean carbon deposits. Carbon deposits are unrelated to vehicle speed: Carbon deposits are not related to the car or its speed, but rather to fuel quality. Carbon deposits are caused by incomplete combustion. Higher RPM enhances combustion and can, to some extent, remove carbon deposits. Methods to determine if a car has carbon deposits include: Significant increase in fuel consumption compared to before. Unstable engine idling, with RPM fluctuating. Experiencing slow acceleration, backfiring when accelerating sharply, and difficulty in cold starts. Feeling a lack of power and sluggishness while driving, especially noticeable during overtaking, with slower acceleration response, significantly different from when the car was new.
As a car enthusiast who loves tinkering with vehicles, I believe revving the engine to 3500 RPM in neutral can slightly clean some carbon deposits, but the effect is quite limited. At high RPMs, the engine temperature rises, which can burn off some soft deposits, such as residues in the exhaust system. However, this method isn't suitable for all engine types—modern direct-injection engines mainly accumulate carbon deposits on the intake valves, which idle revving can hardly reach. Moreover, maintaining 3500 RPM in neutral for extended periods increases engine load, leading to overheating, a spike in fuel consumption, and even accelerated component wear. If you want to prevent carbon buildup, I recommend driving at high speeds in lower gears for about ten kilometers occasionally, or using fuel additives regularly. In short, don't expect this to solve the problem entirely—if carbon deposits are severe, it's better to seek professional cleaning services.
